Control means for computers or industrial processes

ABSTRACT

A control device for computers or industrial processes is provided. The device comprises one or more transducers arranged in a chair for sensing movements of the chair. A first transducer is arranged to sense turning movements of the chair and emit signals corresponding to movements in a horizontal direction. A second transducer is provided for sensing tilting movements of the chair and is arranged to emit signals corresponding to movements in a vertical direction. The output signals of the first and second transducers are supplied to an interface. The interface outputs signals to a transmitter which controls the computer or process, for example, a cursor on a display device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a control device for computers,industrial processes and the like, intended to replace the conventionalmouse or positioner for a computer.

BACKGROUND ART

The mouse has become a necessity when using most modern computerprograms. Software using windows has been developed in recent years andhas become very user-friendly. The computer is given instructions bypointing and clicking with the mouse. However, certain drawbacks haveresulted. Unfavourable strain is caused on the arm, shoulder and neckwhen using the mouse, and gives rise to "mouse arm"0 which is currentlya big problem.

Some 40-50 million personal computers are sold annually, for instance.Windows is often installed as standard equipment and a mouse is includedin the delivery. "Mouse disease" or RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury) coststhe United States approximately seven billion dollars a year intreatment and lost production.

Efforts have been made to solve these problems in various ways, such asby providing support for the hand and/or arm, by means of a footoperated mouse, a trackball or by means of software that forces the userto take a break. However, these methods offer only a slightly reducedrisk of injury and therefore do not solve the problem. The injuriousstatic load remains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims at a solution to these and other associated problemsIt is characterized in that one or more transducers are arranged in achair or the like, the transducer signals being transmitted to acomputer, process, etc. which is thus controlled. A transducer orgyro(s) is suitably arranged in a chair in order to sense turningmovements of the chair and to emit signals corresponding to movements inhorizontal direction, and also a transducer or gyro(s) is also providefor sensing tilting or other similar movements of the chair, such asmovements in the vertical direction. The output signals of thesetransducers are to be combined in an interface, the output signals ofwhich are supplied to a transmitter which controls the computer,industrial process, etc., such as the cursor on a display device. Theconventional mouse is thus entirely or partially replaced by themovements of the chair. One or more gyros, intended to be covered by theterm "transducer", may also be used as transducer.

The new concept is based on the principle of controlling the computer bymeans of the entire body via the chair. The transducers in the chairsense the movements of the body. When the body is turned, for instance,the chair follows the movement and the transducer activates the cursoron the display device so that it moves horizontally. When the body ismoved forward or backwards, the other transducer in the back-rest orseat is activated and the cursor moves in vertical direction.

The transducers can easily be constructed as a pair of mice, oneproducing horizontal and the other vertical movement. An advantage ofthis distribution is that, besides different movements being registered,the control can be varied between 0 and 100% by turning the mousebetween 90 and 0 degrees (the rotation of the ball is measured in twodirections perpendicular to each other). Other alternatives are loadcells, strain gauges, etc. It is also possible to use only a part of themouse--only the ball with its transducer, for instance. Other types oftransducers may be used, such as pointers used in industry. The samesort of signals can be generated if instead the transducer is fixed andthe counter surface moves. Movements other than the rocking and turningmovements described above can be used, such as rocking the whole chair,rocking sideways, tilting the arm-rest or moving the chair on itswheels, etc.

More than two movements can be used simultaneously, for instance,control in three dimensions (x, y and z direction). Also, a stool or anarmchair, for instance, may be used instead of a chair, or the user canstand and lean against a control device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention microswitches,"click-buttons", or the like, are also arranged on the chair, forinstance on an arm-rest, intended for mouse clicking. These may also belocated at the feet of the chair or in the keyboard. Yet anotheralternative is to define a combination of pressing keys and mouseclicking in a program. Radio-controlled mice are commercially availableand radio control may be used to eliminate the need for cables betweenthe chair and computer. However, cable connection to the computer isalso possible. IR, laser, microwave or other electromagnetic wave motioncan be utilized. IR-controlled mice are also available and may be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 illustrates a chair according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sketch of the inventive concept; and

FIG. 3 shows a detail of an alternative embodiment.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a chair (1) equipped in accordance with the invention. Thechair can be turned about a support (2) and this movement is arranged tobe sensed by a transducer (4) arranged by the chair. The transducerrotates on or in the vicinity of a fixed horizontal plate (7) as shownby the arrow (3). The output signals from this transducer (4) sensingthe turning movement of the chair, emit impulses to a cursor forhorizontal movement, as described in more detail below.

A link system (5) is connected to the seat (10) or back-rest (11) of thechair, and also to a second transducer (6) designed, when the chair istilted forwards or backwards (see the arrow 3 A), to move along a plate(8) thereby indicating tilting movements of the chair. Both transducers(6 and 4) may be of conventional mouse type and sensing may be effectedby means of a ball moving along the contact surfaces (7 and 8,respectively). The second transducer (6) emits impulses for verticalmovement, as described in more detail below.

A microswitch (9), a "click-button" or the like, designed for mouseclicking is arranged on the arm-rest (12). These can of course bearranged at other parts of the chair, or on or beside the keyboard.

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic sketch of the invention. The click-buttonsare shown at (13), their output signals being supplied to a terminalblock (14). The transducers for the turning and tilting movements of thechair are shown at (15) and (16), respectively, and their output signalsare also supplied to the terminal block (14). The output signals fromthe latter are supplied to a transmitter (17), to which a battery (18)is also connected. The output signals from the transmitter (17) thuscorrespond to the output signals from a conventional mouse, and aresuitably supplied by radio control to a receiver (19) by the computer(20). The output signals from the transducers (15, 16) thus correspondto the horizontal or vertical movement of the cursor on the screen.

FIG. 3 shows sensing of the movements of the chair via the back-rest.The movements are indicated by the double arrow. A tube (21) is attachedto the back-rest (11). The rotating tube (21) is connected to the mouseball (22) which thus indicates the movements of the back-rest. Analternative is shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, a belt or the likeactuates a small wheel (23) or the equivalent on the axis normallydriven by the mouse ball.

Instead of being used to control a computer, the inventive concept maybe applied to controlling an industrial process and, as previouslymentioned, the type of transducer may vary. The interface may be builtinto the transmitter. A transmitter may also be provided for eachtransducer. Batteries may be connected to the terminal instead of to thetransmitter.

The ergonometric aspects of the invention may be summarized as follows:

The body movements can be followed visually.

The cursor is under observation while the hands are free.

Body balance is used for control.

Less point loading is obtained on the body.

Static torque on the arm is removed.

No more static load is caused than that caused by sitting.

Other advantages are that the computer table can be designed solelytaking into consideration the requirements of the keyboard.

The following advantages are also applicable, particularly in the caseof gyros:

Small dimensions and low weight.

Only one transducer is required since this senses movements in differentdirections.

The gyro can easily be fitted on a suitable part of the chair, e.g. thebackrest or seat.

The possibility of manufacturing an accessory for chairs increases. Itwould be possible to develop an arm-rest with built-in click-buttons,transmitters, interface, batteries, with a cable to the transducer, forinstance, the latter suitably being secured to the back-rest. It ispossible to manufacture a complete unit comprising control equipment asan accessory to existing chairs.

The invention can also be used for controlling handicap aids. With alight source having a directed beam fitted on the chair, photocells canbe used to actuate the various operating means. Not only computers canbe controlled by means of the invention, in an industrial process, forinstance, one movement could control the fuel supply and another the airsupply in a combustion process.

The invention can be varied in many ways without departing from thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A control device for computers or industrial processes, saiddevice comprising: a plurality of transducers or gyros arranged in achair for sensing movements of the chair said transducers comprising afirst transducer for sensing turning movements of the chair and arrangedto emit signals corresponding to movements in a horizontal direction,and a second transducer for sensing tilting movements of the chair andarranged to emit signals corresponding to movements in a verticaldirection, output signals of said first and second transducers beingsupplied to an interface output signals of said interface being suppliedto a transmitter which controls the computers or process.
 2. A controldevice according to claim 1, wherein microswitches or click-buttons, arealso arranged an arm-rest of the chair for mouse clicking.
 3. A controldevice according to claim 1, wherein said first and second transducersare arranged to sense movements of the chair at right angles in relationto each other, the first transducer sensing movements in said horizontalor X-direction and the second transducer sensing movements in saidvertical or Y-direction in a right-angled coordinate system.
 4. Acontrol device according to claim 1, wherein the movements of the chairare arranged to be sensed by a rotating ball, load cells, strain gauge,photocells, or gyro.
 5. A control device according to claim 1, whereinthe turning movements of the chair are sensed by said first transducerrunning towards or close to a horizontal plate.
 6. A control deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the tilting movements of the chair aresensed by a link system connected to a seat or back-rest of the chairand influence the second transducer for movements along a horizontalplate.
 7. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the transmittertransmits signals by cable or without wires to a receiver connected tothe computer or built into said computer.
 8. A control device accordingto claim 1, wherein movements of the chair in more than two dimensionsare sensed for control in x, y or z directions.
 9. A control deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said output signals control a cursor on adisplay device.